MEASUREMENT OF RESPIRATORY SOUNDS IN THE EAR CANAL

这个SBIR第一阶段项目研究了一种测量呼吸的方法 流经身体上的一个远程传感器。近年来，计算机- 基于方法来客观地表征呼吸声音相对于 呼吸系统的结构和功能经历了巨大的变化 随着检测呼吸暂停的前景看好的应用的进展， 打呼噜、支气管收缩和咳嗽。然而，目前的方法是 测量呼吸声音，包括录音麦克风或 胸部的加速度计在临床情况下是不切实际的(例如 在睡眠期间)，空气中的噪音和病人的运动会扰乱 声学测量。相比之下，所提出的方法提供了一个独特的 非侵入性的、不显眼的、 并对外部噪音具有高度免疫力，使其非常适合用于 临床和门诊环境。 这种方法的可行性将通过以下调查进行评估 被动和呼吸声从呼吸道传播到这个 遥不可及的视野。这将定义信息最丰富的频段 检测呼吸音，建立气流与 呼吸音，并确定空气中的噪声水平 这种方法可以充分检测出呼吸的声音。 建议的商业应用： 这项简单易用、价格低廉的技术可以应用到家庭中 提供夜间基于计算机的呼吸监测的监护仪 检测呼吸暂停、鼾声、喘息(支气管收缩)和慢性 咳嗽。检测到喘息和咳嗽有助于评估 患者对药物治疗的反应。

This SBIR phase I project investigates a method to measure respiratory flow via a remotely located sensor on the body. In recent years, computer- based methods to objectively characterize breath sounds relative to the structure and function of the respiratory system have experienced great advancements with promising applications for the detection of apnea, snoring, bronchoconstriction, and coughing. However, current methods to measure respiratory sounds that involve taping microphones or accelerometers to the chest are impractical in clinical situations (e.g. during sleep) where airborne noise and patient motion can confound the acoustical measurements. In contrast, the proposed method offers a unique site for respiratory sound measurement that is noninvasive, unobtrusive, and highly immune to external noise, making it well-suited for use in clinical and ambulatory settings. The feasibility of this method will be assessed through investigations of passive and breath sound transmission from the respiratory tract to this remote sight. This will define the most informative frequency bands for detection of breath sounds, establish the relationship of air flow to respiratory sounds, and determine the levels of airborne noise under which this method can adequately detect breaths sounds. PROPOSED COMMERCIAL APPLICATION: This simple-to-use, inexpensive technology can be implemented into home monitors that provide nocturnal computer-based surveillance of breathing to detect apnea, snoring, wheezing (bronchoconstriction), and chronic coughing. Detection of wheezing and coughing can be useful for assessing patient response to drug therapy.